Project name:European Awareness and Anti-Discrimination
Location:Marcheen-Famenne, Belgium
Host Organization and web link:Association des CompagnonsBâtisseurs (CBB)
Host Contact: Serena Verlato (email: ; telephone:+32 84 31 44 13)
Sending Organization: UNA Exchange – /
Dates:1st February 2017 for 12 months
Host Organisation Description:The Association of CompagnonsBâtisseurs, aka CBB, is a non-profit, non-political youth organisation recognised by the French Community of Belgium. The organisation proposes different kinds of activities, mainly based on volunteering and non-formal education: local and international work camps, medium and long term voluntary service, week-end workcamps, leisure time activities for and with disabled people, youth exchanges and local and international trainings. All these activities would not be possible without a network of 420 Belgian volunteers, almost 200 international volunteers during the summer and a team of 9 employees. We are a Youth Organisation and most of our public is aged between 16 and 25 years, even if there is not upper age limit to integrate our groups of volunteers. CBB especially promote an inclusive approach of the public; we strongly believe in the richness of diversity and we take action to favour the heterogeneous character of our groups of volunteers. Therefore, the members of the association (+- 420 people) are from diverse origins and capacities.
Proposed activities/ Volunteer tasks:The volunteer will be mainly involved in the promotion, preparation, implementation and follow-up of our voluntary projects (work camps, youth exchanges….). S/he will also work sometimes in partnership with other local youth and social organisations. The volunteer will take part in the:
- Promotion of CBB activities: -
To prepare and to hold information stands and raising awareness activities in the, youth centers or in fairs in order to present our activities and increase young people awareness about volunteering, non-formal education and intercultural exchanges; - According to his/her knowledge, to take care of the virtual promotion of the organisation activities (Facebook, Flickr, website updating, support to the communication officer in general);
- Preparation of weekend projects, international work camps and youth exchanges: -
To visit organizations that would like to host an international camp organized by CBB; - To maintain the contact with our partner organisations through Internet communication and to send them regular updates about our projects (mainly about workcamps); - To receive and answer to the application requests of foreigner volunteers who’d like to participate in our projects in Belgium and to follow-up their registration process (this is an important task from April to July that permits to develop a lot of contacts, but can also be considered as very administrative); - To give a support in the preparation of the activities: preparation of material, participants list, info sheet, food etc.
- Co-facilitation of weekend and international work camps–
International work camps are short-term voluntary projects gathering young people from different countries. During two or three weeks, these young people work on a voluntary basis for a non-profit organizations or a local community. The tasks to realize during an international work camp can be very varied: renovation, construction, environment protection, summer camps for children... In collaboration with the camp leader, the EVS volunteer will help to maintain a good group dynamic and to favour the learning experiences within the participants.
- Activities according to the personality of the volunteer and to his/her desires:
We really hope that the volunteer will bring us innovation and creativity. Depending of his/her preferences, of his/her desires and his/her capacities, s/he may make a short film or a photo report presenting the organisation, create posters or write texts about its activities, to organize raising awareness activities about intercultural learning, equal opportunities, mobility... Our EVS volunteer will be encouraged to develop a personal project as long as it complies with the values defended by our organisation! We are ready to support him/her in its implementation!
- Collective activities with other EVS volunteers:
The EVS activity within CompagnonsBâtisseurs is part of an EVS group project that aims to increase European awareness among youth in the town of Marche-en-Famenne and to maintain a close collaboration among the local youth services. For that reason, some activities will be run with other EVS volunteers (hosted by other local youth organizations). The volunteers will work together especially during special events organized once a year in Marche-en-Famenne: intergenerational events, youth services opening da he volunteers will help to prepare and follow-up these events.
Living environment: (Accommodation, food, money, transport, location information...):
The volunteer will be hosted in a house that s/he will share with other EVS volunteers. The house is located in the centre of Marche-en-Famenne and has all the modern comfort needed. The volunteer will receive a monthly allowance and will take care of the meals by her/himself.
During his/her EVS, the volunteer will live and mostly work in Marche-en-Famenne. The town offers all modern facilities (shops, supermarkets, sport center, cinema….). For the urban-life-style-lover, it is however IMPORTANT to note that our town is located in a semi-rural area.
Even if it is not far away from the biggest Belgian cities (57 km from Liège, 106 km from Brussels, 47 km from Namur) and well connected by train, Marche-en-Famenne can sometimes look remote and very quiet.
Volunteer profile: – 18-30 at time of application, UK resident before and after departure, valid passport for at least 1 year after end of activity.
Our project is open to anybody motivated by volunteering and who wishes to be involved in our organization and be in touch with people regardless of their nationality, religion, believes, diploma, professional experience. We expect the volunteer to be interested in international volunteering projects, be ready to build an atmosphere of confidence; ready to involve him/herself in the several activities we do; be able to work together with the staff; agree with our philosophy of equality and openness to the differences.
How to apply:
- Send your CV and a project specific motivation letter to (please specify which project you wish to apply for in the email)
- Once the application is received, the pre-selected volunteers will have to fill in a questionnaire and send it back by the 9th September.
Deadline:4th September